Syrian outpost on Mount Hermon in Golan Heights seized by Israeli troops
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Jerusalem: A Syrian army station at the top of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights was seized by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) forces on Sunday, according to Israeli state media.
Soldiers from the Air Force's commando squad, Shaldag, took the outpost "without encountering resistance," Kan TV News reported.
The commander of the Israeli military's Northern Command, Ori Gordin, and the commander of the Training Command, David Zini also visited the summit, the broadcaster said, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Syrian army reportedly left the post amid the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government, IANS reported.
A photo circulating on social media showed Israeli troops posing for selfies outside the Syrian outpost and another photo showed soldiers holding an Israeli flag.
The IDF did not immediately issue an official comment, a spokesperson told Xinhua. However, earlier on Sunday, the military announced it was moving into the buffer zone, a demilitarized area in the Golan Heights, stating the move was intended to prevent rebel forces from taking over the area and launching attacks into Israel.
By nightfall, the IDF confirmed in a post on the social media platform X that it was conducting "actions" within the buffer zone. The statement urged residents of five villages and towns in southern Syria -- Ofaniya, Quneitra, Al-Hamidiya, Al-Samdaneyah Al-Gharbiya, and Qahtaniya -- to remain indoors. "For your safety, you must stay at home and not go out until further notice," the post read.